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The Tin Can was situated above the Sunset Strip Club in Bradford St, Digbeth. It was primarily an ‘alternative’ venue which played host to band like Southern Death Cult and Death Cult, Play Dead, Alien Sex Fiend,Shakin Pyramids, Roman Holiday, X Mal Deutschland, Balaam & The Angel, Theatre of Hate Zerra One, The March Violets but also bands like China Crisis, The Meltdown Experiment, New Model Army, Billy Bragg, Ellory Bop, The Meteors and most notably R.E.M. played there.

It became notorious though when a fan of Play Dead fell through the sky lights to his death. There had been a lot of trouble with skinheads in Birmingham at that time and fights erupted with Play Dead repeatedly leaving the stage. Details are sketchy but the fan fell through the roof and was found by guards. Play Dead smuggled some of their fans out in their van to avoid the marauding skinheads and never played Birmingham again.

This footage is taken from the Tin Can Club of Alien Sex Fiend in 1983 playing:

Chris Cockel sent in this about seeing John Foxxx at was known as the Tin Can but was above the Sunset Strip Club.

One of the most memorable gigs I went to was to see John Foxx at the Sunset Strip Club in Bradford Street. It must have been in about 1985. He arrived about 2 hours late and then only played a few songs, but it was a classic.
Also, The Smiths at the Tower Ballroom, supported by James and the Red Guitars in 1984. I probably still have ticket stubs at my parents’ house in Moseley.
Rather bizarrely, my former scout master was in a band called the House Ghosts. They practiced in a flat cum studio in the Stratford Road opposite the old Sparkhill Swimming Pool. And gigged at the old Mermaid pub on the Stratford Rd, supporting the Membranes in about 1982/3. I remember it being a rather scary gig.

I am from Wolverhampton and was a member at JB’s from 77 onwards. Also worked in the 1980’s in London and was a member of the Marquee club. Both clubs now history. I went to Birmingham too to see gigs eg Simple Minds @ Barbarella’ s in Summer 79. The same evening I had seen the Tourists’ at JB’s ! as for the Tin Can club. I saw REM there in Spring 1984. They were fresh and exciting. The venue was not full but everyone seemed to be on the dance floor “jumping around” in excitement. have seen the set list for that gig and it was awesome as was the band and the gig (never bettered). Also saw new Model Army with Billy Bragg as a support. Also for me I saw (still) my favourite band since the Beatles’ split the brilliant USA indie band Wall of Voodoo. Also got to speak to a couple of guys in the band (Bruce Moreland told me he was not bothered about Stan Ridgeway leaving the band as Bruce and brother Mark (rip) wrote all the band’s early music. SR only wrote vocals. Note I love both SR early WOV and Andy P later WOV. Both versions released some of the greatest music I have ever seen (and performed live too). Great memories’ . I can remember the 2 Jamaican guys from the strip club trying to get me to go into the Strip club which was on the first floor below the TC club. I am sure the one guy said that he could arrange for you to “sleep with” any of the Strippers that you fancied. Sadly (?) I was more interested in the music. maybe a lucky escape (LOL) If anyone else was at either of the gigs I have mentioned feel free to e mail me or leave a message.

I remember the Tin Can Club with some fondness. I was in a somewhat run down area of the city that was full of small warehouses and factories, and seemed to be mostly deserted in the evening. Though I don’t recall seeing any strippers at the club, the heart shaped mirror and red velvet curtains behind the stage betrayed its origins as a strip club. I was often unemployed at the time so could only go when I had enough money for the entry ticket, some beers and the bus fare home. A few gigs I do remember from 1983-85… Death Cult/The Cult (at least 3 times), Sisters of Mercy, New Model Army, and quite a few more whose names I can’t remember. I occasionally splashed out on a bootleg tape of a previous gig from some shady character in the lobby or outside. These were recorded either from the audience or jacked into the mixing desk, so the sound quality was quite variable.

The young man who died was my now wife’s younger brother. I wasn’t at the gig although I was an avid gig-goer, I had been to the venue previously to see punk shows rather than what would be termed goth or psychobilly. I could never go back there after the tragedy, missing shows by Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto that otherwise I would have attended fanatically.

We were all just teenagers at the time, with no cash to speak of. We were walking along Wheeleys Road earlier that evening when we met him on his way to see his mates and then go on to the show where he would so tragically meet his death. If only we could’ve lent him a couple of quid so he could have pursued other plans that night. It was a matter of weeks before his sixteenth birthday. Rest in peace Tim.

I remember the Tin Can Club, it was a strip club that had bands playing on certain nights. You walked in and I there was a big heart shape that you walked through, if memory serves me well, but I was also worse for wear and I did pass out there! Loved the Power House too and remember seeing the Sister of Mercy there.

Who remembers john the big irish bouncer who kept order all on his own. Tin can what a great sleazy venue many a night tripping Our tits off on mushrooms and acid, and who remembers the what the butler saw peep show machines in the lobby. Birmingham really was more interesting back then!

I was a regular face at the Rum Runner club Broad street. In 1983 the Berrow brothers sold the venue. The arty trend set sadly departed the legendary Rum Runner!

The new exciting venue was the Tin Can. The trend set made this club their own. Many a happy night I have spent there.Great atmosphere, great people. The music and the bands. I remember a night there with Andy Polaris of Animal Nightlife. So many memories.

If anyone has simular knowledge of this club photographs etc, I would really appreciate making contact. I agree, Birmingham was more exciting back then.